Chapter XXII: The Return...

Upon returning to the Demon King's Castle, Donovan attempted to go straight to his room, but was unfortunately prevented by Lady Nyx who had told him that they need to give an official report of what happened in Kal Vorum to Lord Lucifer/His Highness.

Of course, Donovan didn't want to do that, and tried to get himself out of this situation, but Lady Nyx would have none of that, and practically forced him to accompany her.

Once they arrived at the Throne Room, Lady Nyx gave a thorough explanation of the events that transpired in Kal Vorum to Lucifer. Meanwhile, Donovan stood next to her and would occasionally say a few things when His Highness asked him if these things did happen.

After Lady Nyx finished giving the report, Lord Lucifer let loose a somewhat vexed sigh before ordering everyone except the Black Knight to leave the Throne Room.

No one questioned her orders, and once they were all gone, Lord Lucifer said to Donovan. "What's wrong? You seem to be very, troubled. Is it because of Princess Camillia?"

"No." He answered almost immediately before relenting a bit and saying, "Well, yes, but she isn't what's bothering me the most, at least that's what I think."

"Explain." Lord Lucifer requested with a look of interest.

"I, I just feel, it's not easy to explain." Donovan started before giving up and speaking in an exhausted manner, which caused Lord Lucifer to furrow her brows.

"If it's not easy, then take your time, we are always willing to lend you an ear." Lord Lucifer said in response, which in return made Donovan frown a bit.

"Thank you, but I, I'd rather not speak about it, at least right now." Donovan declared after a few seconds of thinking. "I kind of just want to be alone for the time being."

While Lord Lucifer thought it would be best if they talked about what was bothering him now, she wasn't going to force him to talk. If he needed some time alone, then she'll give him some time alone.

"We understand, Lord Fane." She declared with a nod small nod of her head. "Whenever you're ready to talk, let us know, and we'll gladly hear what you have to say."

With the smallest of smiles, Donovan did something a little unexpected. He bowed, while saying in a voice that a tiny trace of gratitude in it. "Thank you, um, Your Majesty."

After that was said and done, he took his leave, and left Lord Lucifer alone in the throne room.

Once he was gone, Lucifer let out a small sigh, and said, "So, what do you think, Lord Arzakol?"

"Well," Lord Arzakol started as he stopped using concealment and appeared out of thin air right next to her. "if I am being honest here, I think sending him down to help oversee the construction of the wall is a terrible idea. It will just make him even more distant than before."

"We agree." Lucifer affirmed with a stern expression. "He was very open-minded when we summoned him, but now, well now he is more reserved you'd say."

"Yes, that is one way to put it." Lord Arzakol acknowledged with a solemn look.

Feeling as if all that has happened to Donovan was her fault, Lucifer said aloud. "Arzakol, answer me honestly, am I a bad person?"

Lord Arzakol, who was used to treating his sister as the Demon King, looked at her for quite some time before answering her question.

"Are you a bad person?" He said aloud in a thoughtful manner. "No, I do not think you are."

"Then why do I feel like what has happened to Donovan is my fault?" She asked him with a troubled expression.

"I don't know, but if we're speaking honestly here, then I think you're being a little too hard on yourself." He declared in a firm tone.

"No, I don't think I am." She disagreed with a sad smile. "I mean, let's think about it. I had you summon someone from a peaceful world for me, and then I convinced them to fight in a war that has nothing to do with them all with a promise I might not actually be able to fulfill. I have robbed him of everything basically."

Lord Arzakol didn't say anything, but a part of him was wondering how she planned on returning him back to his old world, for it was a lot easier to summon somebody than it was to send somebody.

Nonetheless, he knew he had to say something to his sister.

"Well if you had robbed him of his life, then you must give him a new life." He stated in a serious tone as he crossed his arms.

Lucifer frowned at this.

She had practically already given him a new life, the problem that she was facing was that she didn't know how to make it be enjoyable for him. As for why, it was because in the past she had never summoned somebody to be her Black Knight, the Black Knights in the past were demon folk, who gladly took the position to defend her, so she wasn't sure what to do here.

Lord Arzakol saw her frowning, and said, "Anyways, I honestly don't know what else to say to you. I think the only thing you did bad was giving him a promise you might not be able to fulfill, but that's it. Everything that has happened was something we couldn't have expected to happen, so you really shouldn't blame yourself for how he acts now."

Although what Lord Arzakol was saying was true, Lucifer still couldn't help from feeling like it was her fault.

"Maybe, but still, I just feel like it is my fault in some way." She declared as she rested her head on her knuckles and began to think about possible ways to help him.

Lord Arzakol said nothing in response to this.

After Donovan returned to his room and unequipped his armor, he opened the drawer of the nightstand that was next to his bed, and pulled out a flat/rectangular object.

It was his phone, one of the few things he had on him when he was transported to this world.

He let out a sigh before closing the drawer and taking a seat on the bed as he turned it on.

Once it was on, Donovan noticed that it had sixty-eight percent left before it died, and turned the brightness down almost all the way. After he did this, he then unlocked his phone, and went to photos.

He then went through his photos before coming to a stop and pressing his thumb on a certain picture. The picture was of him and his mother on the day he graduated from high school.

In the picture both of their heads were next to each other, and they had the biggest smiles on their faces which had caused him for a brief moment to smile and have eyes filled with joy, but it wasn't long before his eyes became filled with sadness, and he felt the urge to cry.

In fact, his eyes had actually started to tear up, and it was because of this that Donovan had to sniff with his nose before averting his eyes elsewhere.

"I'm okay." Was what he told himself multiple times as he placed a hand on top of his mouth and looked down at the ground. "I'm, I'm okay."

Despite telling himself this over and over, Donovan was unable to convince himself and ended up breaking down right then and there.

At first, he was sobbing like a madman, and couldn't hold back any of his emotions, but as time passed, his crying became more manageable, and it wasn't long before he stopped shedding tears overall.

In that timeframe, his phone's screen had become black again, but Donovan didn't pay much attention to this, for his mind was in a different place at the moment.

However, he was eventually brought back to reality by the sound of someone knocking on his door followed by a voice.

"Lord Fane, are you decent?"

The person who was at his door was Sir Azath.

"Ah." Was the noise Donovan made upon clearing out his throat before answering the Dark Knight.

"Yes, you can enter." Was what he said.

After getting his approval, Sir Azath entered Donovan's room.

Once he had entered his room, Sir Azath greeted him with a respectful bow, and said, "Lord Fane, I would just like to inform you that Lady Camillia is being well taken care of and that me and the men enjoyed our time under your command."

"Oh, well it was an honor, and thank you for the report on Camillia." Came Donovan's response with traces of surprise and uncertainty in his voice. He hadn't expected to be informed about all of this, so it was a little startling to him.

"You're welcome, Lord Fane." He declared with a little nod of his head before continuing on. "I'd also like to inform you that the men actually plan on putting in a request to stay under your command, and be your hand."

"Be my hand?" Donovan repeated with confusion in his voice.

"Yes, the name they have agreed upon was, the Black Knight's Hand." Sir Azath explained in a serious voice.

"I see." Was all Donovan said in response before looking away for a couple of seconds only to look back at him and ask. "So you all discussed while I was giving my report to, Lord Lucifer?"

"Not exactly, if I'm being truthful this has been a discussion that has been going on for a few days now, we just kept it to ourselves." Sir Azath stated in a slightly apologetic manner, which had caused Donovan to frown a little.

"Hmm, well if you all really want to continue serving under me, then I'm not against it." Was what Donovan said after a while. "However, don't expect much from me, I don't see myself as a great leader."

"Well, that's why you have me to assist you, sir." Sir Azath happily said in response which made Donovan smile a bit.

"You're right, thank you, but now if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone for a while." Donovan requested as the small grin he had vanished.

"Of Course, Lord Fane, and sorry for disturbing you." Sir Azath said with a bow before being told that it was fine, and then leaving.

Once he was gone, Donovan let loose a sigh, and allowed himself to fall on his back, and stared up at the ceiling.

"The Black Knight's Hand, huh?"